In the long history of the ninja world, the Land of Tea was once a peaceful and prosperous land. However, the relentless wheel of fate dragged it into the vortex of war. It had been invaded by the Land of Water some time ago, but the Land of Water used a large sum of money to hire the allied Sky Ninja Village ninja army to defeat them. However, the Sky Ninja Land of Whirlpools attracted the Vermilion Bird Corps from the Land of Fire. When Mito Uzumaki led the Vermilion Bird Corps to attack the Land of Tea, the peace of this land was shattered, and a catastrophe concerning life and death descended.
The Vermilion Bird Corps is one of the five elite ninja legions of the Land of Fire, possessing the most powerful runic weapons in the Shinobi World. Their strength is extremely formidable and terrifying; wherever they go, the defenses of the Land of Tea are easily torn apart like fragile paper. The nobles of the Land of Tea, who usually enjoy wealth and luxury, are panicked by the sudden outbreak of war. They know that their country's strength is no match for the powerful Vermilion Bird Corps, so they collectively decide to flee to other countries. The vast majority of them flee to the allied Sky Ninja Village and the Land of Artisans, hoping to find refuge in these powerful ninja villages.
With the nation in peril, the frontline battles of the Land of Tea were entirely fought by civilians. These ordinary people, without rigorous military training or sophisticated weaponry, resolutely Earth Flow the battlefield driven solely by their love for their homeland and their will to live. They used their own flesh and blood to build the last line of defense for the Land of Tea. Meanwhile, the Daimyo of the Land of Tea, the leader who should have led the nation against the invaders, escaped to the Land of Fire disguised as a merchant and amassed a large fortune under the protection of Onmyoji and other skilled individuals. Although they lost their country, they still possessed immense wealth, becoming extremely rich nobles in the Land of Fire.
When the Land of Tea learned that the Land of Fire's army was about to invade, the country was thrown into chaos. The daimyo of the Land of Tea summoned his men for an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. They knew that once the Land of Land of Fire's army entered, the Land of Tea would fall completely, and the nobles would have nowhere to escape. During the tense discussion, one of his Onmyoji (yin-yang masters) made a bold suggestion. "Let's go to the Land of Fire, disguise ourselves as wealthy merchants, and seek refuge. The nobles of the Land of Fire, greedy for wealth, will surely accept us. There, we can live a peaceful life, far from the turmoil of war." Upon hearing this suggestion, a glint of greed flashed in the daimyo's eyes. He nodded and decided to adopt the suggestion.
Thus, the daimyo of the Land of Tea began meticulous planning. He ordered his men to gather all their wealth and disguise it as goods carried by merchants. At the same time, he selected a group of powerful Onmyoji and ninja as bodyguards to ensure his safety during his escape. With everything prepared, they embarked on their journey to the Land of Fire. Along the way, they were extremely cautious, afraid of arousing suspicion. Their disguise was so convincing that the villagers along the route mistook them for a group of wealthy merchants, casting envious glances their way.
Meanwhile, the nobles of the Land of Tea also sprang into action. Carrying vast sums of money and guards, they fled to the Sky Ninja Village and the Land of Artisans. Even in their escape, these nobles maintained their haughty demeanor, showing no concern for the lives of ordinary people, only concerned with their own safe escape from this war-torn land. The common people of the Land of Tea, however, found themselves in an unprecedented predicament. Lacking sufficient funds to flee, they were forced to remain, exploited by the daimyo and nobles, compelled to sacrifice their lives to defend the Land of Tea. The poor, without money or food, were forced to become cannon fodder on the front lines; while the rich, with their wealth, sought refuge outside the country. The Land of Tea descended into chaos, war and disorder intertwined, creating a tragic scene.
On the front lines of the Land of Tea, the civilian-organized army, though numerous, numbering in the millions, faced the well-trained and well-equipped Vermilion Bird Corps. The hardship of the battle was unimaginable; they were fighting with their lives on the line. With unwavering will and a steadfast defense of their homeland, they engaged in a desperate struggle against the enemy. However, due to a lack of effective command and sufficient food, their resistance gradually weakened. Despite this, these civilian warriors did not give up; they sacrificed their lives to secure a final hope for the nobles of the Land of Tea.
While the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Tea lured the commoners to the front lines, they themselves fled the war, enjoying the peace they had bought with their wealth. The daimyo, living a life of luxury within the noble circles of the Land of Fire, relied on his wealth and status, seemingly forgetting that he had once been a leader and noble of the Land of Tea, and forgetting the ordinary people fighting for their country on the front lines. They only cared about their own interests and how to protect themselves in this war.
When the Vermilion Bird Corps's attack began, Mito Uzumaki displayed his mercy and wisdom. Faced with an army of millions of civilians, he could not bring himself to kill them. At an important military conference, Mito Uzumaki, along with the two vice-commanders Tōya Hyuga and Tai Chiba, engaged in a heated debate about how to deal with the civilian army.
Tōya Hyuga advocated for ruthless extermination, believing that these civilian troops were the main force of resistance in the Land of Tea, and only by completely eliminating them could the rule of the Vermilion Bird Corps be ensured. He stated, "Although these civilian troops are poorly trained, their numbers are vast. If they are not eliminated, they will become a hidden danger to our rule over the Land of Tea. We must take strong measures to prevent future troubles."
However, Tai Chiba disagreed, arguing that excessive killing was inappropriate. He stated, "Our attack on the Land of Tea is to establish a new order, not to create more hatred. If we massacre civilians in the war, it will provoke resentment among the people of the Land of Tea, which will be detrimental to our Mirai rule. We should adopt a gentle approach, making them realize that our rule is just, and thus accept us."
Mito Uzumaki fell into deep thought during their argument. He knew that the purpose of this war was to conquer the country and incorporate it into the Land of Fire, not to cause more death. Ultimately, he made his decision. "We cannot kill civilians indiscriminately; they are also victims of war. Our goal is a peaceful nation, not a nation filled with hatred. We will accept their surrender and begin to provide relief to the civilians, letting them realize that joining our Land of Fire can bring them happiness, and that our rule is just."
After losing the command of the nobles and the supply of food, the million-strong army of the Land of Tea descended into complete chaos. Starving civilians began to mutini, some fleeing, some surrendering, and some even taking up arms to burn, kill, and plunder their own people. The people of the Land of Tea were displaced by the war and their lives were plunged into despair.
Under the command of Mito Uzumaki, the Vermilion Bird Corps began accepting the surrender of civilian troops who had been disarmed and quickly launched relief efforts. They distributed food, resettled refugees, and helped people rebuild their homes. At the same time, the Vermilion Bird Corps showed no mercy in executing soldiers who had committed atrocities. These measures quickly won the approval of the people of the Land of Tea, who began to help the Vermilion Bird Corps by providing them with intelligence and assisting them in governing the country.
Under the rule of the Vermilion Bird Corps, the Land of Tea gradually restored order. Mito Uzumaki selected a group of capable administrators from among the graduates of the Konoha Advanced Ninja Academy, assigning them responsibilities for various aspects of the Land of Tea. These new administrators brought new ideas and methods, striving to improve the Land of Tea's infrastructure, raise the living standards of its people, and promote the Land of Tea's economic development.
As time passed, the Land of Tea, under the rule of the Land of Fire, gradually regained its vitality. The lives of the people improved, social order was restored, and the country's economy gradually prospered. The people of the Land of Tea began to realize that joining the Land of Fire's rule was not what they had initially feared, but rather a new era that brought peace and prosperity.
Although the disaster in the Land of Tea brought immense suffering and loss, it also brought new hope and opportunities to this land. Under the wise and benevolent rule of the Land of Fire, the Land of Tea is moving towards a new Mirai.